Influence of the Great Lakes on the dynamics of the southern Laurentide ice sheet: Numerical experiments

Abstract

Research Article| November 01, 2001 Influence of the Great Lakes on the dynamics of the southern Laurentide ice sheet: Numerical experiments Paul M. Cutler; Paul M. Cutler 1National Research Council, 2101 Constitution Avenue, NW (HA-372), Washington, D.C. 20418, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar David M. Mickelson; David M. Mickelson 2Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Patrick M. Colgan; Patrick M. Colgan 3Department of Geology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Douglas R. MacAyeal; Douglas R. MacAyeal 4Department of Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Byron R. Parizek Byron R. Parizek 5Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, College Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Paul M. Cutler 1National Research Council, 2101 Constitution Avenue, NW (HA-372), Washington, D.C. 20418, USA David M. Mickelson 2Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA Patrick M. Colgan 3Department of Geology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA Douglas R. MacAyeal 4Department of Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA Byron R. Parizek 5Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, College Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 20 Feb 2001 Revision Received: 11 Jul 2001 Accepted: 27 Jul 2001 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2001) 29 (11): 1039–1042. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<1039:IOTGLO>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 20 Feb 2001 Revision Received: 11 Jul 2001 Accepted: 27 Jul 2001 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Paul M. Cutler, David M. Mickelson, Patrick M. Colgan, Douglas R. MacAyeal, Byron R. Parizek; Influence of the Great Lakes on the dynamics of the southern Laurentide ice sheet: Numerical experiments. Geology 2001;; 29 (11): 1039–1042. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<1039:IOTGLO>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract A time-dependent, flow-line ice-sheet model is used to explore interactions between last glacial climate, the Laurentide ice sheet, and the Great Lakes. We seek to understand perturbations in the ice-flow field that caused three neighboring lobes to leave different geomorphic and sedimentary records. Driven by reconstructed air- temperature variations from 65 to 18 ka, the simulated lobe dynamics are consistent with constraints from loess and till chronologies, till stratigraphy, and ice-surface profiles. Contrasts in lobe dynamics are best explained by the geometry of lakes along each flow line. As ice entered these lakes, calving influenced glacier mass balance. In particular, deep water in Lake Superior likely delayed ice advance into northern Wisconsin by promoting large calving losses, whereas lobes to the east that encountered shallower water were less affected by calving. The Driftless Area of Wisconsin may thus owe its existence, at least in part, to the presence of Lake Superior. Our results suggest that morainal-bank evolution should be treated in ice-sheet models in lacustrine and shallow-marine settings. Determining the sediment flux to the morainal bank remains a difficult task. For example, ice advance across central Lake Superior was probably sediment-flux limited. Otherwise, the Driftless Area would have been glaciated. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.